Penang or Langkawi: Which Should You Visit?

Penang and Langkawi are two of the most popular tourist destinations in Malaysia. They should both be on your list when it comes to visiting Malaysia.

But if you could only choose one, which one should it be? Penang or Langkawi?

They are actually very different places and may appeal to different types of travellers so whilst there may not be a definitive answer to the question of should I visit Penang or Langkawi, there is likely to be an answer for you.

In the most simple terms, what do you prefer? Beaches and relaxing or culture and exploring?

Overview of Penang

Penang has its origins in a city of trade with the Chinese first settling before the British arrived and founded the city of Georgetown in the 19th century.

The city has kept a lot of its history and colonial vibe in check and Georgetown is now a unesco world heritage site. The jeti’s, the homes of traditional Chinese traders, still house families that live on the stilted village.

But the one thing that Penang is known for is the incredible food! I’ve written a guide to all the foods you should eat when you visit the island.

The street food here is some of the best in Asia and extremely affordable if you know where to look. If you want something for a special occasion there are some very nice fine dining restaurants like Kebaya Dining room, one of the best places to eat fine dining in Penang

Those looking for food and history will enjoy their time in Penang. Exploring the mix of cultures that radiate from Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling, a street that has different names depending on whether you’re speaking English, Malay, Tamil or Chinese.

It is also the only street in the world that has a Chinese temple, Anglican Church, Hindu temple, Buddhist temple and a mosque, all on the same street.

Is those cultures don’t confuse you, head to Armenian Street to look at the street art that Penang is now synonymous with.

The island is a lot larger than many people imagine but there are some secret getaways like pantai Pasir Panjang. Those looking for beach resorts are better off staying close to Batu Ferringhi.

Penang is best for:

• Culture
• History
• Food

Overview of Langkawi

Langkawi doesn’t have quite the colourful history that Penang has, despite the Thai army trying to invade in the 1800’s.

The 99 islands in the state of Kedah is 100km north of Penang and has seen a tourism boom since it was declared a duty free island in 1986.

Whilst there are large (and very exclusive resorts), the island retains the local vibe with the padi fields of the island interrupted by kampungs (villages) containing mosques and small, family stalls selling local food.

Cenang beach is the hub for most tourist activities on the island. The large golden beach is the primary draw and days could be spent sunbathing and doing very little.

Scuba diving, jet skiing, parasailing are all available from the beach which is also lined by tasteful beach bars and restaurants.

Unlike in other countries, I’ve never felt hassled by people trying to sell you a boat tour, more often than not, you’ll have to wake them up from their nap to get going.

There are an abundance of waterfalls covering the lush green island with Telaga Tujuh being the most popular due to its proximity to the SkyBridge, one of the more spectacular attractions in the whole of Malaysia.

Langkawi is best for:

• Beaches
• Duty free
• Holiday vibes

Penang vs Langkawi: Which is right for you?

As you can see, there is no right answer when it comes to which one you should choose.

They are very different places and whilst some might prefer to relax in Langkawi, others might want to explore the culture of Penang in depth.

The perfect scenario would be to see both.

I’ve spent plenty of time in both places but they were at different stages. After I left Central America and wanted to relax, I headed to Langkawi. But I had previously been in Penang for 6 weeks eating all of the food and exploring everywhere on the island.

When my parents came to visit me in Malaysia, we went to Penang first then relaxed in Langkawi afterwards.

And let’s be honest, getting to visit them both is always going to be the best way!

Dan

Dan is an avid traveller from London. His first big adventure was in 2010 living in Malaysia for 3 months. He has been on the road almost constantly since 2015 travelling to destinations that aren’t on the mainstream tourist trail and working full time and travelling since 2021.